On Saturday 25th March we launched a unique piece of artwork at North Berwick Harbour created from marine plastic to raise awareness about plastic pollution and the serious damage it inflicts on our natural environment.
At 8 metres long, the marine plastic mural is one of the largest of its kind in the UK and makes a powerful statement that seeks to encourage individuals to take action. Accompanying the mural is a photography exhibition documenting the 100 beach cleans that collected the plastic and the creation of the mural. The exhibition is free to view and will be on display for around 3 months as part of the Seabird Centres Discovery Experience.
The artwork was the idea of Jerba Campervans and The Scottish Coastal Clean Up, who in partnership with the North Berwick Harbour Trust, commissioned an award-winning local artist Julie Barnes to create a unique, colourful mural made entirely from plastic recovered from a local beach. During the Covid lockdown, East Lothian local Elizabeth Vischer set herself the challenge to complete 100 beach cleans. Over the picks off a 200m stretch at Longniddry Bents no.3. she collected 26,513 pieces of plastic, around half of which have been used in the mural.
Located at North Berwick Harbour, close to the Bass Rock, the mural will stand as a daily reminder of the pollution in our local seas.
From a distance the mural appears to show a colourful beach scene, but the closer you get you can begin to make out the thousands of everyday items that have been used to make up the mural. We want the marine plastic mural to make people stop and think about how these everyday items have ended up in our seas and on our beaches, and what they can do to help.
To get involved in future cleans check out the details on our Big Beach Clean and Beach Blitz Events.